Ebersol: Crucial sports supporter
By Alan Tays
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
It was a sunny Sunday morning a little more than a week ago at Homestead-Miami Speedway. While hundreds of fans milled about outside the garage area, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite drivers, one of the most important people in all sports went virtually unnoticed, quietly conversing with friends.
I can't take credit for recognizing Dick Ebersol. Speedway President Curtis Gray pointed him out to me. Gray and I had been talking about the three days of racing at the track, and how NASCAR's new Chase for the Championship format seemed to have brought bigger crowds to Homestead
Gray was happy with the way things had worked out. NASCAR was happy, too. So, Gray speculated, was NBC, NASCAR's network broadcast outlet.
"There's the guy who could tell you," Gray said, nodding toward a tall, elegant-looking man a few feet away.
Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Sports.
This scene came to mind immediately when I heard about the crash in Colorado of a chartered jet carrying Ebersol, 57, and his sons Charles and Edward. Ebersol and Charles, a senior at Notre Dame, survived. Edward, 14, is presumed dead. The pilot and a flight attendant were killed.
Ebersol and I talked for just a few minutes. He told me he'd been to each of NASCAR's six Nextel Cup races at Homestead.
"The first NASCAR race that NBC ever televised was the race here in '99, which actually was only about 72 hours after we'd made the television deal that wouldn't start until 2001," he said.
We talked about how much bigger the Homestead crowd was than in previous years. Like everyone else, he credited the "Chase" format that had made the end of the Nextel Cup season more competitive.
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ESPN Classic's Dale Earnhardt Tribute
ESPN Classic celebrates the career of NASCAR great Dale Earnhardt, as we build up to the debut of the EOE movie "3", beginning on Wednesday, December 1, at 9 p.m. ET. Every night for six nights ESPN Classic will air a fantastic Dale Earnhardt race at 9 p.m. Then Thursday, December 9, to Saturday, December 11, ESPN Classic will televise the "3 Days of Dale" which will feature around-the-clock airings of his greatest NASCAR and IROC races, as well as shows/documentaries that pay tribute to the career of the immortal "Intimidator".
Wednesday, Dec. 1
9 p.m. - 1995 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 (Sears Point Raceway)
Seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt wins the 1995 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 from Sonoma, Calif.
Thursday, Dec. 2
9 p.m. - 1995 Goody's 500 (Martinsville Speedway) Dale Earnhardt won the 1995 Goody's 500 from Martinsville, Va.
Friday, Dec. 3
9 p.m. - 1995 NAPA 500 (Atlanta Motor Speedway) Dale Earnhardt lead 268 of 328 laps to win the 1995 NAPA 500.
Saturday, Dec. 4
9 p.m. - 1995 Goody's 500 (Bristol International Raceway) Terry Labonte, trying to hold off hard-charging Dale Earnhardt in heavy traffic, won the rain-delayed Goody's 500 on while sliding backward across the finish line at Bristol International Raceway. Earnhardt, who had several other run-ins during the long night, slammed into the rear of Labonte's car, sending the leader spinning at the end of lap 500.
Monday, Dec. 6
9 p.m. - 1996 Purolator 500 (Atlanta Motor Speedway) Dale Earnhardt clinches another victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the 1996 Purolator 500.
Tuesday, Dec. 7
9 p.m. - 1999 Goody's 500 (Bristol Motor Speedway) Dale Earnhardt spun out leader Terry Labonte on the final lap, then went on to take the checkered flag in the 1999 Goody's 500 as a record crowd of about 140,000 cascaded him with boos.
3 Days of Dale
Thursday, Dec. 9
7 a.m. - IROC XIV (1990 - Talladega Super Speedway) On May 5, 1990, a new IROC record was achieved at the Talladega Superspeedway with an average speed of 188.055 MPH in the first race of which Dale Earnhardt took the checkered flag as well as the 1990 IROC season championship.
7:30 a.m. - IROC XIV (1990 - Brooklyn, MI)
Dale Earnhardt wins.
8 a.m. - 1991 Tyson Holly Farms 400 (North Wilkesboro Speedway)
Dale Earnhardt wins the Tyson Holly Farms 400. Harry Gant led the race for 350 laps, and finished 2nd in his final race.
10 a.m. - IROC XVI (1992 - Daytona International Speedway) Race 2 of the season hightened the average speed once again at Talladega Superspeedway, boasting a quick 191.722 MPH. Ricky Rudd took the IROC 16 championship with Dale Earnhardt taking second overall.
10:30 a.m. - 1993 Hooter's 500 (Atlanta Motor Speedway) Dale Earnhardt became the 1993 Winston Cup Champion before the halfway point in the season-ending Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a race Earnhardt didn't need to win to wrap up his sixth series title.
12:30 p.m. - IROC XVIII (1994 - Daytona International Speedway) Dale Earnhardt wins.
1 p.m. - IROC XIX (1995 - Daytona International Speedway) Dale Earnhardt wins.
1:30 p.m. - 1995 First Union 400 (North Wilkesboro Speedway) Dale Earnhardt won his first Winston Cup event of the 1995 season at the First Union 400.
3:30 p.m. - IROC XIX (1995 - Talladega Super Speedway) Dale Earnhardt wins.
4 p.m. - 1995 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 (Sears Point Raceway) Seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt wins the 1995 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 from Sonoma, Calif.
6 p.m. - 1995 NAPA 500 (Atlanta Motor Speedway) Dale Earnhardt lead 268 of 328 laps to win the 1995 NAPA 500.
8 p.m. - SportsCentury: Dale Earnhardt Features and interviews provide a look at NASCAR legend, Dale Earnhardt, who finished his career with 76 wins and earned the nickname "The Intimidator" through his aggressive driving style.
9 p.m. - IROC XXIII (1999 - Daytona International Speedway) Dale Earnhardt wins.
10 p.m. - IROC XXIII (1999 - Talladega Super Speedway) Dale Earnhardt defeats Rusty Wallace and Terry Labonte.
11 p.m. - SportsCentury: Dale Earnhardt Features and interviews provide a look at NASCAR legend, Dale Earnhardt, who finished his career with 76 wins and earned the nickname "The Intimidator" through his aggressive driving style.
3 Days of Dale
Friday, Dec. 10
12 a.m. - IROC XXIII (1999 - Michigan International Speedway)
Dale Earnhardt, Sr. won his third straight IROC Race of Champions by .007 seconds over his son Dale Jr. at Michigan Speedway.
1 a.m. - IROC XXIV (2000 - Daytona International Speedway) Dale Earnhardt wins in his last IROC race.
2 a.m. - 2000 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 (Atlanta Motor Speedway)
Dale Earnhardt held off a determined effort by Labonte to win the 2000 Cracker Barrel 500 by 0.010 seconds - less than two feet.
4 a.m. - 1989 First Union 400 (North Wilkesboro Speedway) Dale Earnhardt fought off the challenges of Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd, Darrell Waltrip, Geoff Bodine and Alan Kulwicki en route to victory in the 1989 First Union 400 from North Wilkesboro, N.C.
7 a.m. - 1989 Budweiser 500 (Dover Downs International Speedway)
Dale Earnhardt dominated the 1989 Budweiser 500 from Dover, Delaware, leading for 454 of the 500 laps and holding off Mark Martin by a half-second for his first victory ever at at Dover Downs International Speedway.
9 a.m. - 1989 Peak Performance 500 (Dover Downs International Speedway) Dale Earnhard outran Mark Martin in a two-car battle over the final 34 laps to win the 1989 Peak Performance 500 from Dover, Delaware.
11 a.m. - IROC XIV (1990 - Talladega Super Speedway) On May 5, 1990, a new IROC record was achieved at the Talladega Superspeedway with an average speed of 188.055 MPH in the first race of which Dale Earnhardt took the checkered flag as well as the 1990 IROC season championship.
11:30 a.m. - IROC XIV (1990 - Brooklyn, MI) Dale Earnhardt wins.
12 p.m. - 1991 Tyson Holly Farms 400 (North Wilkesboro Speedway) Dale Earnhardt wins the Tyson Holly Farms 400. Harry Gant led the race for 350 laps, and finished 2nd in his final race.
2 p.m. - IROC XVI (1992 - Daytona International Speedway) Race 2 of the season hightened the average speed once again at Talladega Superspeedway, boasting a quick 191.722 MPH. Ricky Rudd took the IROC 16 championship with Dale Earnhardt taking second overall.
2:30 p.m. - 1993 Hooter's 500 (Atlanta Motor Speedway) Dale Earnhardt became the 1993 Winston Cup Champion before the halfway point in the season-ending Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a race Earnhardt didn't need to win to wrap up his sixth series title.
4:30 p.m. - IROC XVIII (1994 - Daytona International Speedway) Dale Earnhardt wins.
5 p.m. - IROC XIX (1995 - Daytona International Speedway) Dale Earnhardt wins.
5:30 p.m. - 1995 First Union 400 (North Wilkesboro Speedway) Dale Earnhardt won his first Winston Cup event of the 1995 season at the First Union 400.
7:30 p.m. - IROC XIX (1995 - Talladega Super Speedway) Dale Earnhardt wins.
8 p.m. - 3 Nation: The Life and Legacy of Dale Earnhardt The behind-the-scenes making of the Dale Earnhardt movie "3".
9 p.m. - SportsCentury: Dale Earnhardt Features and interviews provide a look at NASCAR legend, Dale Earnhardt, who finished his career with 76 wins and earned the nickname "The Intimidator" through his aggressive driving style.
10 p.m. - IROC XXIII (1999 - Daytona International Speedway) Dale Earnhardt wins.
11 p.m. - 3 Nation: The Life and Legacy of Dale Earnhardt The behind-the-scenes making of the Dale Earnhardt movie "3".
3 Days of Dale Saturday, Dec. 11
12 a.m. - 1995 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 (Sears Point Raceway)
Seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt wins the 1995 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 from Sonoma, Calif.
2 a.m. - 1995 NAPA 500 (Atlanta Motor Speedway) Dale Earnhardt lead 268 of 328 laps to win the 1995 NAPA 500.
4 a.m. - 1996 Purolator 500 (Atlanta Motor Speedway) Dale Earnhardt clinches another victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the 1996 Purolator 500.
7 a.m. - IROC XXIII (1999 - Talladega Super Speedway) Dale Earnhardt defeats Rusty Wallace and Terry Labonte.
8 a.m. - IROC XXIII (1999 - Michigan International Speedway) Dale Earnhardt, Sr. won his third straight IROC Race of Champions by .007 seconds over his son Dale Jr. at Michigan Speedway.
9 a.m. - IROC XXIV (2000 - Daytona International Speedway) Dale Earnhardt wins in his last IROC race.
10 a.m. - 2000 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 (Atlanta Motor Speedway)
Dale Earnhardt held off a determined effort by Labonte to win the 2000 Cracker Barrel 500 by 0.010 seconds - less than two feet.
12 p.m. - 1989 Peak Performance 500 (Dover Downs International Speedway)
Dale Earnhard outran Mark Martin in a two-car battle over the final 34 laps to win the 1989 Peak Performance 500 from Dover, Delaware.
2 p.m. - 1991 Hanes 500 (Martinsville Speedway) Dale Earnhardt gets his 50th NASCAR career victory by winning the 1991 Hanes 500 from Martinsville, Va.
4 p.m. - 1999 Goody's 500 (Bristol Motor Speedway) Dale Earnhardt spun out leader Terry Labonte on the final lap, then went on to take the checkered flag in the 1999 Goody's 500 as a record crowd of about 140,000 cascaded him with boos.
6 p.m. - 2000 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 (Atlanta Motor Speedway)
Dale Earnhardt held off a determined effort by Labonte to win the 2000 Cracker Barrel 500 by 0.010 seconds - less than two feet.
8 p.m. - SportsCentury: Dale Earnhardt Features and interviews provide a look at NASCAR legend, Dale Earnhardt, who finished his career with 76 wins and earned the nickname "The Intimidator" through his aggressive driving style.
11 p.m. - LIVE CALL-IN SHOW: 3 - Dale Earnhardt 3: Dale Earnhardt will be a live public forum and debate on the career and life of Dale Earnhardt, as well as the movie. Fans and their range of thoughts on Earnhardt and 3 will also feature prominently in the program, with the host and the panel of guests taking live calls from fans who want to sound off and be part of the debate. Fans will also be able to submit questions in the week prior to the program via ESPN.com. A selection of questions received via email will be addressed live on the program.